Counterbalancing device for window sashes



.lilly 1.7, 1928.

` N. A. LEREN coUNTERBALANcI'uG DEyI'cr: Fon wnmow sAsHEs W 7 X Il .M a/u ,M X v f n i. lwnl ULI HLN |,l||? Il MW .Ww lrllll 2+, l l 0. 5 9 0 i. M .//,J l 7 H .mw no --.9 l v o F Lff L-.. y

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Filed Nov. 21, 1925 mmv, i

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Patented .luly 17, 1928.

UANlTESTATE NELs A. LEREN, or MINNnAroLrs, MINNESOTA.v

,eoUN-TERBALANCING Dnvrcn non WINDOW sAsHEs.

Application led November 21, 1925. Serial No. 70,5701.

rI`his invention relates to counter-balanced l window sashes and especially to that type lll ` tions above set forth.

of counter-balanced sashes wherein the up,-

er and lower sashes are connected. by means n of flexible members passed 'over pulleysor guide members carried at the top of the window frame. 1

It is the main 'object of this invention 'to' cient counter-balancing device for slidable sashesfwhich will not only permitsaid sashes to be held in various will,`moreover, permit one of said -sashes to be opened forv some distance while the other sash is closed. .It is'often 4desirable ina roomin order to avoid a draught, to open only the lower sash, which function is impossible -with most counter-balancing devices now on the market. Y

It is a further object y provide means, in combination with a lock adapted to secure the lower sash to the window frame in various raised positions, which will permit'the connection between the ends of the flexible members employed and the sashes to yieldingly give, whereby the lower sash may be opened to a desired position and locked with the other sash closed. Y

A more specific object of the invention is to provide the sashes with vertically disposed seats or grooves in the sides thereof wherein the ends of the flexible members or connecting members are disposed and to interpose between the extremities of ysaid connecting provide anv extremely simple but highly effimembers and the upper ends of'said seats, rev silient members adapted to perform the func are preferably in the form of springs coiled abouttubular members or rods connected to the flexible members them-selves.'

Itis a still further obj ect to provide means for adjusting the tension on said ysprings and means also'for preventing the further compression thereof beyond certain limits.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following descripi tion made in connection with the accompany'- ingdrawings, wherein like characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Views, and in which, Y

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary of an embodiment of the invention appliedto the usual window frame with the lower sash closed and the springs tensioned, some portions being broken away and others vshown in section;Y

opened positions but of theinvention to Said resilient members fronty elevation Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe same on a larger scale taken on the line 2-2 ofI Fig. 1 ;v Y

Fig 3 is a'fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 2, on a larger scale showing the sash in normal.counterbalanced position with the provided at either side thereof with the usual 'at thel top with the sash sash guides 7 j and guides 7 ,connectmg therewith. The upper v sash 8 and the lower sash 9 are of'standard type, dove-tailing atvtheir intersecting surfaces adj acent the horizontal middle ofthe window frame.l In eachside'of sashes 8 and 9 longitudinal vertically disposedvv lseatsv or grooves ySa and 9a, respectively,` are formed at the outer edges, extending from the top of the sashdownwar'dly topoints adjacent the bottomof t-he sash. In the lower sash 9 the seats 9a communicate with preferably cylindrical seats'of vlarger diameter 9by from points adjacent the bottom of sash 9 to points approximately one-third ofthe height of said sash, forming the annular flanges or shoulders 9c at the plane of intersection with seats 9. Fixed sleeves 10 are provided, fitting vsnugly within the top portions of each of the seats 8a and 9a respectively of the to by means of set screws'll extending from. theiroom side of the respective sashes into contact with the sleeves `10. A pair of transversely disposed pulleys 12 are rigidly secured to the top board of window frame 6, each substantially in alignment with the seats 8@ andf9a on one'side of the sashes.

A flexible member 13 is passed over each' of pulleys 12, the ends thereof 'depending and approximately aligned with vthe seats 8a and 9a in the upper and lower sashesfat that side .of the window frame. The ends of each of the flexible members 13 are passed through the fixed sleeves 10 in the respectiveV made by passing the ends of flexible members 13 through the members and lmotting the extremities of the llexible members, interposing a contacting member or washer 15 between the knots and the lower ends of the members 111. Upper sash 8 is thus connected to lower sash 9 over pulleys 12 for counterbalancing.

Coiled springs X surround tubular members or rods 14, having their ends interposed between the lower ends of xed sleeve members 10 and washers or contacting member 15. The springs X on the upper sash may be dispensed with and a positive connection made between the ends of flexible me1nbers 13 and the tubular members or rods 14. However, if springs are usedv as illustrated the samey are tensioned considerably less than the springs X employed in the lower sash, the purpose of which will later be set forth.

Both upper and lower sashes 8 and 9 at one side of the window frame preferably have rack plates 16 secured to the outer edges thereof covering seats 8 and 9, respectively, and a window lock or ventilation lock of any suitable type which will loch" the lower sash against further opening in a desired closed or opened position is mounted at one side of window frame G adapted to engage the several teeth or holes in plate 16. An ordinary window lock securing the sashes together at their overlapping portions may, of course, be used but will not permit the sashes to be locked in a. variety of different opened positions. Preferably the locl; 18 employed, corresponds to the device disclosed and described in applicants pending application for patent entitled Ventilation locks for window sashes, filed January 13, 1923, S. N. 612,376. This form of lock may be quickly manipulated from the room side of the window frame by a single pull rod 18n which is adapted to release dogs or bolts 19 to permit engagement. thereof with the rack plates on the side edges oit' the sash.

Knots 13, or the equivalent thereof, are made in the flexible members 13 above the top of the sleeves 10 in upper sash 8, operative to prevent tension from being placed on springs X in the upper sash when the sashes are in closedy position. These knots, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are adapted to abut against the top ofthe window frame G through which the flexible member is passed. Y

In smaller sash, or, if desired, in larger sash, the rods or tubular members 141i may be omitted as well as vsleeve members 1() and the coiled springs X will embrace the cords or flexible members 13 themselves. lHowever, as shown in F ig. 5, if thesel parts are omitted. it is found highly eliicient to dip the end portions of the flexible members normally disposed within seats 8'a and 9a,

into lacquer or some other self-hardening material which will stiffen leave a smooth substantially cylindricalA surface on the outer sides thereof for the springs to work over. The springs X may then be interposed between the usual washers 15 and a. plate or washer 17 rigidly secured in the intermediate portion of seats or recesses 8a and 9a.

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to automatically be raised on'rods or tubular' members 14 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. There will be no tension on springs X' since the knots 13a in flexible members 13 contact theupper surface of windowv frame 6. Thus, the lower vsash 9 maybe automatically raised without lowering upper.

the' ends andV of theupper sash 8 sash 8 merely by releasing the lock 18. If,"V

of course. itis desired 'to open both sashes,

lower sash 9 may be further raised, where-V upon upper sash 8l ywill drop vaccordingly and said sashes 8 and 9 will be counter-bat anced in a desired opened position.V

When it is .desired elevating upper sash 8 vto closed position and the lock 18 is put on by depressing the pull rod 181. If'the formrof lventilation lock described in the above identified pending application of inventorsis employed,

the same may be set before sash 9 is .lowered,. may be depressedA and left at any desired position or may beY closed entirely and held closed by said lock.'

whereby the lowerV sash it is contemplated `by the inventor that the to close both sashes, lower sash 9 is simply depressed, thereby Y springs X are not necessary in the f upper sash 8. it is found that, by employing'V springs and tensioning the same verjy7 slightly, in combination with the lock hitherto described, the weight ofl the upper sash will be sulicient to permit the same to be opened to some extent without opening' lower sash 9because of the frictional engagement with said ventilation lock employed. Y i

The tension on springs X may be obviously regulated by loosening the set screw 11 and adjust-ing the relative-longitudinal po-` sitionV of sleeves 10 to the sash -in which mounted, if desired. By so doing, the upper seat for the spring is varied, which, of.,

course. varies the tension.

In the lower sash the shoulders 9c avii'ordedv by the intersection of seat 9b l provide a stop or abutment for washer 15,

with seat 9,

. thereby positively connecting flexible mem'- l ployed, thereby insuring the same; against breakage.- l f f Y .Y y

The applicant has put his invention to considerable actual usage vand has found the same lhighly efficient for all the purposes intended. Y

lIt will be seenl from the above description that the applica-nt has invented' a simplel but efficient counter-balancing device for sliding window sashes, capable of wide Vgeneral usage, inexpensive to manufacture and'perniitting the sashes 'on which employed to not only be counter-balancedl in desired opened positions'but permitting one ofthe sashes to be opened to some extent while the other sash is closed.

It will, of course, be understood thatvarious changes may be made inthe form, details, proportions and arrangement of parts without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination with a window frame and upper and lower sliding sashes therefor, counter-balaneing mechanism having in combination a guide member at the top of said window frame, a flexible lmember secured at one end to said upper sash and passed over said guide member, said lower sash having a vertical seat in a side thereof, the vother end of said flexible member extending into said seat, a tubular member about the lower end of said flexible member slidable in said seat, a contacting member secured to the lower extremity of said flexible member below said tubular member, and a coiled spring on said tubular member interposed between said contacting member and the upper end of said seat, and a lock for holding said lower sash in a plurality of positions relative to the side of said window frame.

2. In combination with a window frame and upper and lower sliding sashes therefor,

counter-balancing mechanism having in combination guides carried at either side thereof, said sashes having vertically disposed seats in the sides thereof, flexible members one at each side of said frame mounted over said guides, each having their ends disposed in the seats of said sashes at oney side of said window frame, elastic members disposed in said seats and interposed between the extremities of said flexible members and the upper ends of said seats, and means for locking said lower sash in various raised positions.

3. A counter-balancing device for slidable window sashes having in coinbination'a guide adapted to be supported from the top of a .ber and a seat in window frame,a flexiblelmember secured to one ofV said sashes andi passed over said guide, a vertically slidable .member mounted in the other of said sasheshaving its upper end connectedto theotlier end of said flexiblemember, resilient means compressible between thelowerfend of said slidablememsaid sash, and means for locking said sashes in closed position.

"-4. The structureiset forthin claim 3, and.

means for limiting' the compression of said lresilient member. p f' 5.1AlcounterbalancingV deviceforv sliding window s sashes having `'inl combination a kguide adapted to be supportedI from the top of: the window frame", :a: flexible member having" oneof-y its endsconn'ected 'to one of said sashes and passed-over said guide,the other endv of said flexible member extend-v ing vsubstantially vertically into said other sash, kan elongated elastic element within said last mentionedl sash connecting said last mentioned end of said flexible member therewith to render the ible member between said sashes adjustable, means for' maintaining said last mentioned end of said flexible member within said last mentioned sash with freedom for slidable movement and means for locking said sashes in closed position with said'elastic element tensioned. t

6; In combination with a window frame, upper and lower vertical sliding sashes, counterbalancing mechanism having in coinbination, a. guide supported yfrom the top of said window frame, a flexible member passed over said guide and having one end connected to one of said sashes, said other sash having a substantially vertical recessed portion for receiving said flexible member,

length of said flex-4 ioo' y an elastic element disposed `within said rei cessed portion connecting the other end of Said flexible member with said sash to render the length of said flexible member between said sashes adjustable, means for maintaining said llast mentioned end of said flexible Vmember withinl said sash with freedom ai:V all times for slidable movement therein against the tension of said spring'and means for locking said sashes in closed position.

7."In combination with a window frame, upper and lower vertical sliding sashes, counterbala-ncing mechanism having in coinbination, a guide supported from the top of Said window frame, a flexible member passed over said guide and having one end connected to one of said sashes, said other sash having a substantially vertical recessed portion adapted to receive the other end of said flexible member, a seat medially disposed in said recessed portion, a coiled spring surrounding said last mentioned end of said flexible member andinterposed for compression between the extremity thereof and said seat to render the length of said fiexibie membern between Seid eeebee adjustable, means for maintaining said flexible "for locking said sashes to said Window frame -in a plurality of different positions;

8. In combination with a Window frame, upper andv 4lower vertical sliding" sashes, eonnterbalancing meehanismhaving in combination a guide supported fromV the topof said Window frame. a flexible member passed over said guide and having one end connected to one of said sashes, said other sash having a substantially Vertical elongated recessed portion in one side thereof adapted to receive the other end of said flexible member, a spring seat medially disposed in said recessed portion, a stop member adjacent, the extremity of said last mentioned endojf 20 said flexible member and disposed `Within said recessed port-ion, a coiled spring sur-V rounding said flexible member and inter;-L Y

posed between said spring seat and -said stop member, saidl flexible member being 25 mounted with freedom for slidable kmovement in said recessed portion against'the" tension of said spring, a', shoulder in said recessed portion below said sprl-ng seat adapted to be engaged by said stop member 30` to limit the slidable movement of said fleX- ible member and means forloeking ,1fv said sashes to said Window` frame 1n a plurality 

